Microscopic Imaging

Our microscopy solutions
MBF Bioscience > Microscopic Imaging

Overview

MBF has solutions to capture microscope images, image stacks, and whole slide images, and we provide options to clarify those images. Whether you have a brightfield, widefield fluorescence, or laser-scanning confocal microscope, we can work with you to find the best imaging solution for you.

Light Sheet

ClearScope is a revolutionary light sheet theta microscope system designed to work with a wide range of cleared specimens. Its patented technology has been developed through a collaboration between scientists at Columbia University and MBF Bioscience. ClearScope is designed to meet the unique challenges inherent to imaging cleared organs and brain specimens with high-resolution optics capable of distinguishing and obtaining quantifiable imaging data pertaining to fluorescence, neurons, vessels, and subcellular structures like dendritic spines.

Acquisition

Microlucida is a system specifically for microscope imaging, but Neurolucida for neuron tracing and Stereo Investigator for stereology also have powerful imaging capabilities. Any one of these systems can be paired with imaging modules to go beyond capturing 2D images of a single field of view. Available options include adding:

 

  • the Image Stack Module to acquire image stacks
  • the 2D Slide Scanning module or 3D Slide Scanning module to acquire 2D or 3D whole slide images automatically
  • the Image Montaging Module to stitch together previously acquired image stacks

Structured Illumination

Structured Illumination microscopy allows researchers to clearly visualize multiple labels and co-localization within a biological specimen without the need for a laser scanning confocal microscope. This technique involves inserting a slider into the light path of a fluorescence microscope, which projects a grid onto a specimen. The grid moves to different locations and an image is captured at each location. The individual images are then combined to create a single high-resolution, high-contrast image free of gridlines and out-of-focus light.

 

 

Our Structured Illumination Module seamlessly integrates Stereo InvestigatorNeurolucida or Microlucida software with structured illumination hardware such as the Zeiss ApoTome, Olympus DSU, or Qioptiq OptiGrid – turning your fluorescent microscope into a confocal microscope.

Whole-Slide Images

Whole-slide images are changing the workflow of many labs. Physical slides are transformed into digital resources that can be analyzed on any computer, easily stored, and quickly shared with colleagues no matter where they are. Other benefits of whole slides include:

 

  • Increase the throughput of your microscope by analyzing a specimen at a computer workstation instead of at the microscope
  • Create a digital archive of specimens for future use
  • Preserve fluorescent tissue that degrades over time and fades with each use
  • Analyze an image with Neurolucida or Stereo Investigator
  • A single system that works with all of your microscopic specimens
  • Collaborate with others and work remotely
  • Create publication-quality images

Montaging

Overlapping image stacks taken on a fluorescence or confocal microscope can be stitched together automatically to create a 3D montage of a region of interest. This is particularly helpful when analyzing an object larger than one field of view, for example when tracing a neuron that branches extensively.

 

The Image Montaging Module automatically aligns and stitches together your previously acquired 3D image stacks or 2D images to produce a single high-resolution image. Digitally re-create your region of interest at a high magnification for a detailed image that you can further analyze with Neurolucida, and Stereo Investigator, publish in a paper, save in an archive, or share and save with Biolucida. Automatically montage several images, a dozen, or even hundreds of images.

 

Time Lapse

Visualize cell growth and movement with Microlucida, a system for microscope image acquisition that can take time-lapse images and image stacks.

 

Microlucida controls microscope components to capture 2D, 3D, and 4D images unattended. It is compatible with brightfield and fluorescence microscopes.

Want Help Understanding Which Product is 
Right for Your Application?

At MBF, we’ve spent decades understanding the needs of researchers and their labs — and have a suite of products and solutions that have been specifically designed for the needs of today’s most important and advanced labs. Our commitment to you is to spend time with you discussing the needs of your lab — so that we can make sure the solutions we provide for you are exactly what you’ll need. It’s part of our commitment to supporting you — before, during, and after you’ve made your decision. We look forward to talking with you!